Inking mechanism for check writers



1961 w. w. MALONEY EI'AL 2,968,238

INKING MECHANISM FOR CHECK WRITERS Filed Feb. 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORS WILLIAM W. MALONEY JOHN F. MALONEY wgmmiwaw ATTOR NEYS Jan. 17, 1961 w. w. MALQNEY ETAL 2,968,238

INKING MECHANISM FOR CHECK WRITERS Filed Feb. 27, 1957 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 INVENTORS WlLLlAM W. MALONEY JOHN F. MALONEY AT TORN EYS 1961 w. w. MALONEY EIAL 2,968,238

INKING MECHANISM FOR CHECK WRITERS 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed Feb. 27, 1957 INVENTORS WILLIAM W. MALONEY F. MALONEY %9 0 744 'ATTORNEYS.

JOHN

United States Patent INKING MECHANISM FOR CHECK WRITERS William W. Maloney and John F. Maloney, Chicago, 11]., assignors to Checkwriter Sales Company, Chicago, 111., a copartnership Filed Feb. 27, 1957, Ser. No. 642,832

2 Claims. (Cl. 10196) This invention relates generally to check writers, and more particularly to improvements in inking mechanism for machines of this type.

A further object of this invention is the provision of a device for printing the amount of the check upon the amount line, for mutilating the check to prevent unauthorized change of the payee name on the line above the amount line and for moving a printing ribbon transversely thereof between the printing type and the platen.

In the past, great difficulty has been experienced in securing a uniform and sufficient application of ink to the printing type of check writers. Check writers are subjected to very adverse conditions insofar as the inking mechanism is concerned, because of the fact that they are not used regularly and because of the fact that certain type, those of the lower denominational orders, are used much more frequently than the type in the higher denominational orders. These adverse conditions result in check writers equipped with ordinary inking mechanisms in supplying a surplus of ink to the type in the higher denominational orders and supplying less than the required amount to the type in the lower denominational orders. The resulting impression is, therefore, non-uniform and presents a poor appearance. While a suitable ink which does not dry upon the ink pad, or ink rollers, when exposed to air for lengthy periods of time has been used in the past, it frequently happens that the first impression made from a check writer after a period of disuse is not clear and, therefore, not readily legible.

It is, of course, a desireratum of check writing machines that the impressions made upon the negotiable instruments be of utmost clarity and legibility, compatible with the necessity that the impression be very difficult to alter.

It is, therefore, one of the primary objects of this invention to provide an improved inking mechanism and mutilating mechanism for check writers which will uniformly and regularly apply the required amount of ink to the impression type and without clashing with the mutilating mechanism.

It is a further object of this invention to provide improved inking means embodying a ribbon and a movable platen which functions without the operation, or causing sufiicient movement of the mutilating bar to mutilate any portion of the face of a check.

A still further object of this invention is to provide a check writer having a ribbon feed reel journalled on the carriage at one side thereof, allowing ribbon to be fed therefrom to a ribbon-receiving reel journalled on the carriage at the opposite side thereof, the ribbon to travel transversely of the machine between the impression type and the platen without coming in contact or interfering with the mutilating bar adjacent thereto.

Other objects will appear from the following description, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a check writer embodying the invention;

Figure 2 is a right side view of the check writer shown in Figure 1 with the cover removed and parts broken away;

Figure 3 is a left side view of the check writer shown in Figure 2, parts broken away and parts shown dotted with the platen is raised position;

Figure 4 is a transverse vertical section of the check protector taken substantially along the line IVIV of Figure 2; and

Figure 5 is a fragmentary sectional view of the check protector taken substantially along the line V-V of Figure 4.

The ribbon type inking mechanism for this invention is herein illustrated as applied to a check writer of general design, which check writer comprises generally a base casting 10, and a suitable casting 12. The framework of the check writer secured to the base casting it) comprises a base plate 14, a front wall, a rear wall, and side walls 15 and 16 which forms a support for a platen 17 and associated parts.

A plurality of type segments 22 are pivotally mounted upon a shaft 24 w..ich is journalled in the side wall plates 15 and 16. The segments may bepivoted to select any one of the type 26 thereof into printing position by means of manually engageable slides 28 which have depending members 30 and are operatively connected to the respective type segments by suitable means. An operating crank 36 having a handle 38 is secured to the end of an operating shaft 40 by a bolt with an enlarged head 41, said shaft 4%) being journalled in the side walls 15 and 16 to permit oscillation of the crank 36.

The printing is effected in the following manner: As shown in Figures 2, 3 and 4 an inked ribbon 45 extends from spools, or reels, 46 and 47 on shafts 48 and 49 over guide pin 56 mounted upon rearwardly disposed arms 51 forming a part of the arms 52 pivoted to the side walls 15 and 16 by pins 53. The arms 52 extend downwardly from the pivot pins 53 and carry a bar 54 extending transversely of the machine at their end portions by screws 55. Extending forwardly from the bar 54 at each end thereof and adjacent the side walls 15 and 16 are positioned bars 56, one end of each bar 56 secured to the transverse bar 54 and the other ends of the bars 56 attached to means in combination with gears for determining the direction of rotationof the reels 46 and 47 to feed the ribbon to and from the reels as it is being used. The ribbon passes from tle reel over the guide pins 50 upwardly and over guide pins 69 extending outwardly from the side walls 15 and 16, and then downwardly, or upwardly, through the ribbon funnel or guide means 61, to and over horizontally and freely mounted rotating spools 62. The spools 62 are positioned on each side of the machine to guide the ribbon 45 transversely of the machine, said spools being rotatably mounted horizontally upon the forward end portions of the horizontal shafts 63 extending through and forwardly from bracket means 64 suitably secured to the side walls 15 and 16. Said shafts 63 are slidably mounted in horizontally aligned holes in the leg portions of said bracket 64. The forward end of each shaft 63 is provided with a fixed washer 65. The spools 62 and shaft 63 are held in a forward position by coil springs 66 which are sleeve mounted upon the shafts 63 intermediate the spools 62 and the bracket 64. It will be seen that the freely mounted rotating spools 62 guide the ribbon transversely of the machine intermediate the type segments and the hammer type platen of the machine and the horizontal movement of the spools 62, shafts 63 and springs 66 permits the removal of the prefix 114, to be described later. It is understoodthat .each of the reels.

as the ribbon is fed from one roller it is rewound upon the second roller. The ribbon, such as a standard ribbon one-half inch in full width, is ftatand of full width as it passes transversely of the machine; however, the ribbon on its return to the rewind spool is folded over upon itself during its vertical upward travel trough and by the guide, or funnel 61; therefore, the ribbon is arranged double and of only one-h lf its true width upon Beneath the ribbon 45, and in the vertical plane of the shaft 24, is positioned a printing hammer. or platen 17. preferably having a facing embodying fine linear projections extending longitudinally of the machine.

As best shown by Figures 2, 3 and 4, the platen 17 is carried by a pair of arms 71 and 72 which are pivotally secured intermediate their ends to a shaft 75 journalled in the side walls and 16. The opposite ends of said arms 71 and 72 are spaced and secured in alignment by shaft 76. Said shaft 76 arranged in the vertical plane of shaft 40 is equipped with a roller bearing 77 mounted thereon and adjacent the ends thereof. Directly above the roller bearing 77 is mounted a pair of earns 80 rigidly secured to shaft 40. Thus, the manual operation of the crank 36 will rotate the shaft in a counterclockwise direction, which in turn will effect movement of said earns 80 into contact with said roller bearings 77 forcin; the shaft 76 and the rear end portions of said arms 71 and 72 downwardly. The downward movement of the rear end portions of the arms will cause the forward ends of the arms to be raised thereby elevating the platen beneath the ribbon 45 and the type segments 22; therefore, when a check is present the platen will force the check .into contact with the ribbon which is pressed into contact with the type and cause the desired amount to be printed upon the check by the ink from the ribbon.

Adjacent the platen and to the rear thereof, in sub stantially the same vertical plane as shaft 24, is a lower movable mutilating bar 82 and an upper stationary mutilating bar 92; shown dotted in Figure 3, said upper bar 92 having a knurled facing, or similar type face. The lower bar 82 preferably having a facing with raised letters. such as Protected, said letters having a facing embodying raised projections to perforate, or disfigure, the face of a check where the payees name is imprinted. The mutilating bar 82 is carried by a pair of arms 84 and 85, juxtaposed the arms 71 and 72, and are pivotally secured intermediate their ends to said shaft 75. The opposite ends of said arms 84 and 85 are spaced and secured in alignment by a bar or suitable means. The arms 71, 72, 84 and 85 being juxtaposed each other are each provided with a bore through which a common shaft 86 extends horizontally and transversely of the machine. The end portions of said shaft 86 extend through an angularly arranged slot in the side walls 15 and 16, one end of the shaft having a knurled knob 87 secured thereto. Therefore, whenever the arms 71 and 72 are moved in either direction, the common shaft will cause arms 84 and 85 to travel in the same direction.

It is often desirable to raise the platen into contact with a check and force it into contact with a ribbon and not mutilate the line thereabove provided for the pcyees name. Therefore, the aperture in the ends of the arms 84 and 85 is elongated. The shaft 86 is formed with a pair of cammed surfaces which fit within said apertures in the arms 84 and 85. By turning the knurled knob 87 through 90 in either direction, the common shaft will raise the free ends of the arms 84 and 85 and lower the mutilating bar a sufficient distance to relieve a check from being pressed by the lower mutilating bar 82 into contact with the upper stationary mutilating bar 92 arranged transversely of the machine and rigidly supported by the sides 15 and 16. By turning the knurled vknob 87 to theoriginal position, the arms 71, 72, 84

and 85 will again be moved as a single unit by the common bar 86 and a check can be printed and mutilated at the same time by operation of the crank.

Type clearance mechanism is embodied with this machine whereby the type segments may remain in a set position for printing several checks with the same amount. The details are not shown by the drawings with the exception of the control knob 94. Setting of said knob 94 will effect-the clearance of the type segments according to the operation desired by the machine operator.

In order to move the ribbon a desired amount at each operation of the crank, a key-stone shaped cam 95 is mounted upon each end of shaft 40 extending exteriorly of said side walls 15 and 16. A11 arm 96 is pivotally mounted at its rearward end to the annular portion of each of said cams 95 by pins 97. The forward ends of the arms 96 are mounted on guide pins 98 extending laterally and through horizontal slots arranged longitudinally of the machine in the walls 15 and 16. Said pins 98 are rigidly secured to the lower end of vertically arranged pivot arms positioned on the interior of the walls 15 and 16; said pivoted arms having laterally extending dogs secured thereto for contacting one of a pair of gears and causing rotation of one of the ribbon reels for rewinding of the ribbon, and for drawing a desired portion of the ribbon transversely of the machine below the type segments.

Asafety feature is combined with the cams 95 to prevent the return of the crank arm before it completes its travel downwardly. The lower peripheral portion of each cam 95 is provided with ratchet teeth. A rotatable member 160 is mounted adjacent to each cam 95 and embodying a lower extension arm 101 held in its lower position by means of a spring 102 connected thereto and to a lower embodiment of the machine. Each of said members is provided with a laterally extending dog positioned to engage the ratchet teeth on each of said cams 95, preventing return of the cam in counterclockwise direction until it has completely tripped the dog which occurs only when the crank 36 has reached its lowermost point in its downward travel.

Depending from the uppermost portion of each wall is an arm 105 clearly shown by Figures 2, 3 and 4. The lower end portion of each'arm 105 is formed with a U-shaped configuration and with a small knob extending laterally from the free end thereof. The arm 105 is manually operated and set at a desired location to govern the distance a check is to be extended; said arm forming a guide or stop for the rear edge of the check.

A pair of rearwardly and downwardly extending spring arm members 106 are secured to the forward wall of the machine to press downwardly upon any check as it is inserted into the machine; said arms also acting as a holding means during the actuation of the crank and the typing of the check.

The check writer is operated in the following manner: The operator will set the slides 28 to the desired position, thus bringing selected type 26 in position above the platen 17 to print the desired amount upon the check. After the amount has thus been set up, the operator will insert the check beneath the spring members 106 until the rear edge of the check contacts the arms 105. The operator will then swing the operating handle 38 from the position in which it is shown in Figure 2 to the position shown dotted in Figure 3, whereupon the shaft 76 supporting the two arms 71 and 72 will be moved downwardly bycarns 80; said arms pivoting about the shaft 75 and elevating the platen 17 forceably upward- 1y against the check in contact with the ribbon 45 which is in contact with the type 26. If the name of the payee upon the line is to be mutilated, the operator sets the knob 87 so that the mutilating bar will also force the check into contact with the upper mutilating bar 92 and the check will not only be typed but mutilated on the line above the amount line. The ribbon 45 will transfer an adequate supply of ink to the faces of the type without coming in contact with the mutilating bars. The ribbon will be advanced automatically as described above in the specification. The ribbon causes a uniform impression upon the check being printed due to the serrated surface of the platen 17. The mutilating bars having minute pointed projections upon their faces will mutilate the payees name by imperforating the word Protected thereover.

Upon the return movement of the crank 36 to its original position, the platen and mutilating bars will be lowered, the type will be cleared, or moved automatically to zero location, and the check removed.

This structure presents a novel check writer where a ribbon travels transverselyof the machine and provides a uniform inking impression upon each and every check operated upon. The significant advantage of applicants traveling ribbon and movable type platen and mutilating bars is that it can be serviced and precisely adjusted.

It will be understood that modifications and variations may be effected without departing from the scope of the novel concepts of the present invention.

We claim as our invention:

1. In a check writer, a main frame provided with side walls, transverse wall supporting means, a pair of ribbon reels vertically mounted upon the forward ends of the side walls and parallel therewith, an inking ribbon traveling between said reels transversely of said frame, said ribbon passing over rotatably mounted spools assembleds on the outer ends of horizontally mounted shafts journalled in brackets secured to the opposite sides of the machine and midway between the ends of the machine, the inner ends of said shafts rotatably and longitudinally movable in the journals of said brackets, ribbonfeeding means, selectively set type mounted adjacent and above said ribbon, a movable platen, manually operable platen actuating mechanism for causing the platen to travel toward and away from said ribbon adjacent said type, said manually operable mechanism including a crank secured to one end of an operating shaft, said shaft journalled in the sides of said frame and at the rear end thereof, said ribbon-feeding means including a key-stone shaped cam means secured upon each end of said shaft, said key-stone cam means have a relative large convex smooth surface at one end and a relatively small toothed surface at the opposite end thereof, horizontally and forwardly extending arms connected with the smooth end portion of said keystone cam means, and the forward ends of said arms connected with means to move said ribbon a desired amount at each operation of the check writer, and a safety device preventing the return of said crank when operated by the user before its complete downward and forwardly stroke is terminated, said safety device comprising a rotatable member mounted adjacent to each of said key-stone cam means, said members each embodying an arm resiliently retained in a downward position relative to the base of the machine, each of said members provided with a laterally extending dog positioned to engage said toothed end surface of said key-stone cam means adjacent thereto, and means to trip said dogs on said members when said crank reaches its lowermost position.

2. In a check writer machine, the combination of a check writer frame and a traveling inking ribbon, a movable platen, a pair of ribbon reels mounted vertically upon the sides of the frame, parallel therewith and at the forward end thereof, said inking ribbon arranged to be taken from one of said reels and conducted horizontally and transversely of the frame to the second reel where it is rewound thereon, said ribbon passing over rotatably and horizontally mounted spools assembled on the free ends of the horizontal shafts journalled in brack-' ets mounted upon opposite sides of the machine parallel therewith and intermediate the ends thereof, the journalled ends of said shafts rotatablyand longitudinally movable in relation to the base of the machine, selectively set type mounted above said ribbon, a crank connected with suitable manually operable means for causing the platen to travel toward and away from said ribbon adjacent said type, said manually operable means including an operating shaft, said shaft mounted transversely of the frame and journalled in journals mounted on opposite sides of the machine and at the rear end thereof, a keystone shaped cam secured upon each end of said shaft, each of said keystone shaped cams having a relatively large convex end surface and a toothed relatively small end surface at the opposite end thereof, forwardly extending arms connected to the convex end of said cams, the forward ends of said arms connected with guide pins extending laterally and through horizontal slots arranged longitudinally of the machine in the side walls of the frame intermediate said reels and said spools located on opposite sides of the machine, the inner ends of said pins secured to the lower ends of vertically arranged pivotarms arranged on the interior of said side walls of the machine, said arms having dogs secured therewith, said dogs contacting gears assembled therewith and causing rotation of one of the ribbon reels for winding of the ribbon thereon and for drawing a desired portion of the ribbon transversely of the machine below the type segments, and a safety device for preventing the return of said crank before it completes its full stroke forwardly and downwardly, said safety device comprising a rotatable member mounted adjacent to each of said key-stone cams, said members each embodying an arm resiliently retained in a downwardly extending position relative to the base of the machine, each of said members provided with a laterally extending dog type arm positioned to engagesaid toothed end surface of said key-stone shaped cams adjacent thereto, and means to trip said dog type arms on said members when said crank reaches its lowermost position.

References Cited in the. file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Schultz June 4, 1957 

